DNP Scholarly Projects

Abstract

Project Title: Improving Patient Tracking to Reduce False No-Shows and Strengthen Access to LARC

Background: A Step Ahead Foundation (ASAF) partners with clinical providers across Middle Tennessee to expand access to long-acting, reversible contraceptive methods (LARC). Accurate client tracking from initial contact to service delivery is essential to understanding service utilization, improving care coordination, and sustaining access to LARC.

Problem: Current workflow does not reliably capture patients' transitions across intake, scheduling, service delivery, and billing.

Purpose: The primary purpose of this phased quality improvement project was to improve data collection to reduce false no-shows and strengthen access to LARC.

Project Design: The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Model for Improvement was utilized for this quality improvement project. The three phases consisted of data collection, work-flow mapping, and a 4-week pilot study to track true no-shows through a standardized tracking process.

Outcomes: Initial data collection indicated that 43% of individuals who contacted ASAF and were scheduled for appointments did not appear in the system as having received services. Following the implementation of a standardized tracking protocol during the 4-week pilot phase, the verified no-show rate was determined to be 27%.


Streaming Media

Date

2025

First Advisor

Elizabeth Morse, DNP, MPH

Second Advisor

David Phillippi, PhD

Department

Nursing, School of

College

Health Sciences & Nursing, Gordon E. Inman College of

Document Type

Poster

Degree

Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Degree Level

Doctoral

Degree Grantor

Belmont University

Keywords

LARC; Data tracking; No-shows; A Step Ahead; Improving Access

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Available for download on Tuesday, May 18, 2027

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